Liquid diets, sometimes medically recommended for obese patients who need to undergo surgery, appeal to the general population of dieters for their promise of rapid weight loss. Most liquid diets contain few calories, so weight loss is virtually guaranteed. Unfortunately, weight gain as soon as you reintroduce solid foods into your diet is also a safe bet.
Why Liquid Diets Work
Liquid diets work because they contain as few as one-fourth of the calories you would normally consume. A woman needs about 2,000 calories a day to maintain her normal weight and a man a few hundred calories more. Your personal needs depend on factors such as your age, sex and level of activity. While nutritionists suggest reducing your calories by about 500 per day, liquid diets reduce them by up to 1,500 calories.
Weight-Loss Guidelines
On a 1,500-calorie-per-day diet, you would lose about 1 lb. per week. On a 500-calorie-a-day diet, you would lose 3 lbs. a week. Some liquid diet authors promise much higher results. And some deliver --- at least in the short run --- by ridding your body of stored-up toxins. The Master Cleanse, for instance, works both as a calorie-reduced diet and as a detoxification program. Based on the roughly 800 calories a day you consume on the Master Cleanse, you could lose 2.4 lbs. a week. But you may lose up to 10 lbs. a week if you have a lot of waste stored in your colon,
Master Cleanse
The Master Cleanse, around since the 1950s, surged in popularity in recent years after singer/actress Beyonce appeared on Oprah Winfrey's television show to say she'd lost 20 lbs. in two weeks in preparation for her role in "Dream Girls." Her claims are widely promoted on the Internet, but less well-publicized is the singer's admission she regained all of the weight she lost. According to the "Sunday Telegraph," Beyonce maintains her weight by following a calorie-restricted diet five days a week and eating whatever she wants on the weekend.
Lemonade and Juice Diets
If you want to try a liquid diet, seek one that provides the most possible nutrition. The Master Cleanse, which goes by a variety of names, including the Lemonade Diet and the Cayenne Pepper Diet, offers little. The diet consists of a drink containing water, lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne pepper. You will get some vitamin C from the lemon juice and some minerals --- and a lot of sugar --- in the maple syrup. If you follow a juice diet, you will get a lot of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Particularly healthy fruits and vegetables include broccoli, strawberries, oranges, blueberries, kale and sweet potatoes. On liquid protein diets, you will get substantial amounts of protein and calcium.
Liquid Protein Diets
A liquid protein diet may help you feel full longer than other liquid diets. According to a study by Australian researcher M. Noakes, participants who followed a high-protein liquid diet enjoyed greater satiety than those who followed a high-carbohydrate liquid diet. The Master Cleanse is very high in carbohydrates, as it includes nearly a cup of maple syrup a day. Juice diets contain complex carbohydrates, which do not create sharp fluctuations in your blood sugar. Liquid diets and other extremely low-calorie diets are best followed with medical supervision. According to Noakes, who published his findings in 2008 in the "Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition," you will lose about the same amount of weight on a high-carbohydrate or high-protein liquid diet.
References
- U.S. Department of Agriculture: My Pyramid
- The Master Cleanse
- "Sunday Telegraph"; Celebrity Diet Dangers; Liz Walsh; July 25, 2010
- "The Globe and Mail"; Low Glycemic Load is the Best Diet Road; Leslie Beck; Aug. 23, 2006
- "Drug Week"; Research From M. Noakes and Co-Authors Reveals New Findings on Weight Loss; June 6, 2008
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